Death by Crockpot

by Linda West

  I nodded. Ethel would know. She was the Murder She Wrote officiando.

  “But maybe she’s not the only one that could benefit from Jackson’s money,” I added. “There was definitely no love lost between Jackson and his sister either. She really hates him – I think we need to consider her.”

  Ethel’s eyes narrowed. “How do you know?”

  I shrugged. “Spidey sense I guess. She has real expressive lines on her face and they are like a roadmap of her feelings. And they all looked like they hated Jackson. I don’t know if she’s capable of murdering her own brother, but we need to find out why she came here and what exactly their relationship was.”

  “Agreed. So why would they be having lunch with Mia?”

  “Good question,” I said. “It doesn’t sound like a family get together to mourn the loss of a loved one.”

  The lodge came into full view as we headed up the last of the mountain road.

  The Eagle’s Peak Lodge was over two hundred years old. It was made from solid oak trunks, and lots of love. The Elkins’ family had owned and managed the lodge for generations. It was a popular hangout in Kissing Bridge, with the best ski lifts, bed and breakfast accommodations, and a wonderful diner that looked out over the base of the tallest ski mountain in Vermont.

  Cars clogged the parking lot where we pulled in and skiers in tugged on various stages ski clothes to go up the hill or ripped off wet layers to go home. The snow was coming down hard up on the mountain, and the lodge looked cherry with the light of the fire’s glow inside.

  Ethel parked the van, and I took Aphrodite off my neck and put her in her cat carrier. She was not happy about that, but I was having none of her sass. I had serious business to attend to, and I also knew the inside of her carrier looked like something out of I Dream of Genie’s bottle. It was lux to the max and had her favorite food to keep her mollified. I was proud of myself. I was getting good at being a cat lady – which also horrified me. Had I given up on love then?

  Ethel waved to her husband Earl as he came through the big wooden doors of the Eagle’s Peak Lodge to meet us. Elle must have let him know we were coming.

  I grabbed Ethel’s hand to get her attention. “Okay we’re going to go in there and find out what’s going on.”

  “Great. How do you suggest we do that?”

  “Elle saved us a table right next to their booth. We’re going to sit down and just be friendly – just like we are in Kissing Bridge. And you be a nosey old lady.”

  Ethel nodded.” I can do that.”

  “We need to find out more about why they really came to Kissing Bridge, and whether or not Mia is really pregnant.” I said. “Just be as rude as you need to be, old ladies can get away with that.” Ethel raised her eyebrow and it reminded me of my mother when she thought I was being classless.

  “If only Carol’s eavesdropping talent were here,” she whispered.

  I opened the car door.

  Earl Elkins walked across the parking lot in long strides to meet us. He looked like a real authentic cowboy. He had a solid jaw and stood a good six foot four. Even for his age he was strong and sure and he made a perfect couple with his new wife Ethel.

  I had warned Ethel to keep our little plan private. Upsetting her new husband wasn’t going to help anything. Ethel took a deep breath and pulled out some perfume and sprayed a bit on her pulse. Earl sauntered over and opened the car door for her. She stepped out and he wrapped her in a big bear hug embrace. “Nice to see you, sweetheart.” His voice was compassionate. “How are you doing?”

  Ethel hugged him back. What could she say? Her sister was accused of murder, things were looking bleak, and we were about to have lunch with someone that might be a killer.

  CHAPTER 28

  Luckily Ethel didn’t share that last part with Earl. I waited for her up at the front desk and talked to my dear friend Elle. It was nice to see Elle. I hadn’t had much time to spend with her since I’d gotten back. We promised to get together soon. When Ethel joined me, Elle made a show of greeting us professionally, and then led us through the dining room and winked at me as she sat us at the table right next to our group of suspects.

  The suspects, Mia, Helena, and Frankie, were seated in a coveted booth. The booths were half circles and made of soft red leather. The view of the mountain through the windows belonged in a dream.

  We pretended to look at our menus, all the while casting furtive glances to the group next to us. Mia (The Poodle) was on the furthest side of the booth and she had her coat on still. I couldn’t tell if she had a baby bump. Darn it, who wears a coat in a dining room? Maybe someone with something to hide?

  Maybe she was just cold all the time because she was so darn pale and skinny. I was happy to see a big cheeseburger in front of her because she looked like she needed it. But she didn’t seem to really be eating; she just picked at a fry and stared ahead, ignoring the other two.

  Jackson’s sister was in black again, with pearls again, only now with a fox stole slung across her shoulders. Humph. Don’t get all-uppity, lady, I have a fur stole as well and she’s my best friend – beat that.

  Her son was gobbling up his food and bedecked in even more Harvard wear. Did he go to college there or just get it off eBay?

  Nobody was saying anything at the table, and I was getting bored so I leaned over and broke the ice. I looked at Mia who was staring off into nowhere.

  ”Hey there, I like your nose ring,” I said.

  She leveled her eyes at me and focused, realized I was talking to her. I was all smiles. “It goes real nice with that black rose tattoo.” Her hand flew to cover the tattoo on her shoulder. “Get that here in Kissing Bridge or would you have to go off the mountain for that?”

  She mumbled, “Burning Man. A couple years ago.”

  I nodded emphatically like I just loved tattoos and nose ring combos. “Been meaning to go to Burning Man.”

  Whatever that was. Hippy festival I think. Fit her.

  “Anyway, I met you the other night I think,” I said.

  She tried to place me…

  “At the Enchanted Café before it opened…” I prompted.

  She nodded and her eyes widened a bit, probably remembering me threatening them with the spatula.

  ‘I’m Kat and this is my boss – Ethel.”

  I left off “Landers” as I thought it might not work in our favor, but I wasn’t fooling anyone.

  The lady in the fur stole got up from the booth and came over and stuck her hand out to Ethel. “I’m Helena Jennings Allman – and you’re Ethel Landers-Elkins I believe.” Ethel nodded. Unsure of what was coming next.

  “Well, we weren’t formally introduced at the house the other day. Seemed we both had something we were looking for at my brother’s. Maybe we can be of help to each other?”

  Ethel looked at me. I shrugged.

  Helena continued amiably, crossing her delicate hands in front of her. “Landers-Elkins…hmm…then it’s your sister that is currently in jail for the murder of my brother, is that correct?”

  I swallowed. Ethel opened her mouth but nothing came out. Helena continued. “Please come join us and let me buy you lunch. My brother was a horrible man and your sister did us all a favor.”

  Ethel raised her eyebrows, but I saw the opportunity and was taking it. I jumped out of my seat and grabbed my coat and purse. “Well, thank you so much – Helena, is it?” I pumped her hand. “I fear we got off to a bad start the other day.”

  I fake-helped Ethel to her feet and scooted her to the booth. Helena made the introductions as Mia rolled her eyes and focused on dipping a fry into the ketchup over and over again. The Harvard guy, Frankie, merely grunted in our direction and buried himself in his cell phone. I had the luck of sitting next to Mr. Personality, which actually was a perfect time to size him up. He had a lot to gain, as did his mother, with the death of Jackson.

  Frankie Allman was a young, strong man, big enough to be the person in black that had chased me w
ith the knife. I scoured my brain trying to place him at the chili contest. A flash of his face – wearing a Harvard hat and chatting with one of the other teams – came to mind. What team was that? I thought hard – red shirts…. The Bulldangos! The steak house restaurant in the suburb of Six Pines, Sleepy Oaks! But where was he when Jackson was getting murdered? I looked down at his broad arms. He had the strength to do it. I took off my coat, and he moved his coat over to make room for me. I caught a flash of a needle sticking out of the inside pocket of his Varsity jacket – again emblazoned with Harvard.

  Why would he have a needle? Was he a drug addict? Maybe he poisoned Jackson to weaken him and then bludgeoned him with the crockpot? I decided to pry – after all, we were invited.

  “So – I’m guessing you’re a big Harvard fan or are you in school there?” I asked Frankie. He tore his gaze away from the phone at the mention of Harvard.

  “I just got accepted actually. I start in September if…” He was stopped by his mother’s firm grip coming down on his hand. I watched the blood drain out of it as she squeezed. Frankie stopped talking.

  “Now, Frankie, we’re here to get to know each other, so let’s not get sidetracked.”

  Frankie made a scowl and went back to staring at his cell phone.

  Elle came by with a pitcher of sparkling water and cocked her head in amusement to see us all together. I beamed at her. This was going fabulously.

  Helena offered to buy us all champagne but we declined. We needed to stay on our toes and drinking at lunch was not going to help.

  Ethel spoke up. “I want to let you all know that my sister is not responsible for the death of Jackson. We’re going to find the real murderer and put whoever did this senseless crime behind bars. “

  Helena looked at her, confused. “So you’re saying that your sister is innocent and there are other suspects?”

  I cut in smoothly, worried Ethel might have given away too much.

  “Carol is innocent so that means the real killer is still out there. As far as we know, there are no other suspects…” I elbowed Ethel to keep quiet and looked around the table to see if the “other suspects” comment hit home.

  They were all gazing at me blankly. I went ahead and asked them straight.

  “Do any of you have any idea who might want to see Jackson dead?”

  I looked at Mia and she shook her head. Helena burst out laughing. I think she was getting tipsy.

  “Oh, this is rich. My brother made a life’s work out of ripping people off and casting them aside and you wonder which one of his countless victims did it? Good luck. You’ve got a long list to consider, sweetheart.” She drank some more champagne and laughed at herself.

  Ethel and I looked at each other.

  Frankie put his phone away and looked at us suspiciously. Now that he was looking at me straight on I could see the resemblance to his mother and the Jennings side. Harvard Boy was light haired with matching slit-like blue eyes. He had the same short stature as Jackson and, from what I could see, the same bad attitude.

  Frankie said, “Let’s just talk about the memorial and we’ll let the lawyers do what they do. It will all be settled tomorrow when Mr. Maritime reads the will.”

  He looked at Mia with disgust. “I don’t know why you’re insisting on making this hard for everyone,” Frankie went on. “You shouldn’t even be allowed to be in the office when they read my uncle’s will. We’re the only blood relatives Jackson has and you’re just a piece of white trash trying to cash in on his money. You’re the one that probably killed him.”

  Mia pushed up from the table and Helena said, “Frankie!” and Ethel and I were both focused on Mia’s torso. The coat parted and I tried not to be obvious because she was so upset, but I had to get a look under that darn coat.

  “You were the ones that were just here to get Jackson’s money!” said Mia. “He told me all about your pathetic calls asking for help.”

  Helena stood up now too. She was unbalanced from too much champagne so she put her hand on the table to steady herself. I noticed the empty bottle in an ice bucket by the side of the booth. Had she drained it all?

  “I only asked for what was mine!” she hissed. “He didn’t have the right to keep my gift from my mother along with swindling us out of house and home. You’re nothing! You’re a girl he put a ring on her finger so he could get his sister jealous of the inheritance! You were just a passing stop on his roadway of destruction. Another notch on his belt.” Mia’s mouth grew wider and wider. “You’re such a fool.” Helena trailed off into laughter now. “If you think you’re getting your hands on my family’s legacy, you got another thing coming!”

  Mia’s hands were shaking as she searched in her purse, preparing to leave. Ethel dropped her teacup nervously and it rattled as it fell back to the saucer.

  “You know what, Helena?” said Mia. “I can’t wait to see your face tomorrow at the reading of the will.”

  Helena dismissed her with a wave then seemed to lose all her steam and collapse back to her seat.

  “Go. Go away with your empty threats, Mia. Your little engagement ring and promise to be wed means nothing anymore. Believe me, we intend to inherit what is rightly ours, and it will be over my dead body that you see a penny of my families’ money.”

  Helena steadied her anger with a last sip of champagne. Had she drunk it all? Helena’s pretense at niceties had obviously come to an end. She was full of contempt and it showed. But was it aimed at Mia – or her brother?

  Helena leaned forward and had an eye show down with Mia. She lowered her voice to a hissed out in a threatening whisper, “My brother was a horrible man he strung you along, dear. You’re – well - you’re beneath his station, really. He never would have married you.”

  Mia gave her a look I hadn’t seen before coming from the poodle girl. Her eyes were deeply lined with black liner so she appeared almost sinister even in the bright daylight. I wondered if I had misjudged what this girl was capable of.

  “Oh, but you’re wrong,” Mia said in a scary tone.

  She flung up her tiny white pale hand and there next to her large engagement ring was another gold ring all lined with diamonds. We all stared and took in the beauty and the meaning of this. I opened my mouth as I realized it was a matching wedding ring.

  Helena gasped and Frankie looked up to see Mia waving the proof in his face.

  “We got married two days before Jackson died and he changed the will. I will see you tomorrow at Mr. Maritime’s office. And when he reads that will, you two – will get nothing.”

  With that, she swung around and her coat parted to reveal a baby bump beyond a doubt. Mia was definitely married, and she was definitely pregnant.

  CHAPTER 29

  I ran out after Mia and stopped her in the parking lot as she was wiping the new snowfall off her window with one of those mittens that has fake fur with the scraper attached. Christmas gift probably. You got one every year up in this area. So maybe she was local after all.

  “Hey Mia!” she looked up, and realized it was me, and went back to removing the snow as if I hadn’t spoken. I wasn’t missing my chance. She might have a key to this murder, and I had to get it out of her. I’m usually not a fake person, but I realized that I’m actually getting pretty good at it.

  I donned a fake look of concern – okay mostly fake. She was pregnant after all and young and her old man fiancé had just died. Who knew if she really cared for him? Maybe she was all-alone? I suddenly felt bad for her. I had to remind myself that though she was pregnant, and married to Jackson; she also had the most to gain from his death. For all I knew I could be confronting a killer.

  “I’m sorry about that business back there,” I said. “They should be nicer to you now that you’re family.”

  She looked at me with her deep brown eyes that were overly lined in black like a Goth superhero and pulled her glove off. She wiped at her eyes, creating two black smeared pools down her cheeks. She couldn’t have been
more than twenty-two and she was stick thin.

  She didn’t reply. She put her key in the car door to leave, and I hurried closer to stall her.

  “Congratulations on your marriage, too. I’m – I’m sorry about Jackson.” She stopped at the sincerity in my voice. She turned and took a couple steps closer to me.

  “You saw him? After it happened – they said you and Jaime were the ones that came in and found him?”

  I looked in her eyes but I couldn’t read her emotions. Was she sad he was dead, or relieved? I looked at the ground, overcome by the memory of the sight.

  “Yes. It was – horrible. I’m so sorry.”

  I pushed myself to ask her, woman to woman. I looked up.

  “Did you love him Mia? Like, real love?”

  She looked at me, trying to read me, and remained silent. I stumbled on reaching for any way to connect with her. “I mean, he was awfully old, and you’re a pretty girl – I bet you could get a lot of guys your own age.”

  She snorted. “You know what – you’re a bad liar, Kat. Anyone ever tell you that? You stink at it. I know what I look like. I know you probably think I’m creepy with my crazy Goth style. But I’ve had worse – you know what I mean?”

  I shook my head. I had no idea what she meant and she had already caught me lying once. She pulled open her black purse and took out a black lighter and a black cigarette case with a black skeleton on it. She certainly took this Goth thing seriously.

  Mia took a couple cigarettes out and leaned against the car and offered me one. I looked around guiltily but I needed to keep talking to her so of course I had to take whatever opportunity came up – even a cigarette in plain daylight.